Weighing and filling machine.



G. HOEPNER.

WEIGHING AND FILLING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1912 i m cmm Patented $10119, 1912.

L SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

l'm enimw a f G "02" "WA/2255c" 1272' 6i 1 0/1 3? grai I G. HOEPNEB. WBIGHING AND FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1912v Patented NOV. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Georg e G. HOEPNER.

WBIGHING AND FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1912.

LQ -iifififi Patented. Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-iifiI-IET 3.

Wm? F 54 M G. HOBPNER.

WEIGHING AND FILLING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB-15, 1912.

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3y Geo/ 76,359) @2" eration and it feeds the material to be packaged through the spout into the receptacle. 1n the arrangementshown there is a vertical shaft 15 suitably supported at the axis of the hopper and extending down into the hopper. On this shaft is a suitable stirrer '16 having an arm 17 extending down toward the outlet end of the hopper in proximity to and parallel with the side of the hopper. A second arm 18 extends upwardly and parallel with the sides of the. hopper. On the lower end of the shaft is a spiral or screw 19 which extends down through the spoutto the lower end thereof, the screw fitting within the spout so that as it is rotated it will positively carry material to be packaged down through the spout and eject it into the lower end of the latter. 4 It will be seen that when the shaft 15 is set in operation, a receptacle being in place beneath the spout, the material to be packaged will .be fed through the spout into the receptacle, being packed into the bottom of the receplacle and gradually rising in the receptacle until the latter is filled. As the material enters the receptacle the receptacle is forced down against the resistance of the counterbalance. The density which the material in tjfthe receptacle will have depends upon the counter-balance, the density becoming greater as the counterbalance is increased. Consequently, by properly adjusting the counterweight, the weight of the goods packed in a receptacle may be accurately determined provided the feeding of the goods can always be stopped accurately at a-predetermined point. My invention relates particularly to the control of the feeding mechanism so as to insure a stopping of the feed at just the proper point. To this end I have provided power mechanism for driving the feed de; vice, together with power-actuated means for disconnecting the feed device from the driving mechanism, the power-actuated means being controlled by the supporting member for the receptacle so that only a small impulse or force, too small to interfere with the delicacy of the weighing, is re quired to set in motion. the mechanism for nipping the feed. The driving mechanism as follows: Mounted in suitable bearings hopper is a horizontal 1 gear wheel 23 on this a complementary gear the upper end of the shaft 15. Conwhen the shaft revolves the ill .echaniszr 1 1:11. On one the shaft .5 111g )ulle r I mor i so to he free to more rely v respect to the shaft both in the axial and in the *.ircumferential direction. On one side of the driving pulley is a clutch drum 26 adapted to cooperate with a clutch cone 27 fixed upon the shaft. is a spring arranged between tlie pulley and the clutch cone so as to hold the two clutch members normally out or operation with each other. thus interrupting the driving connection between the pulley and the shaft. Fixed to the shaft near the pulley is a collar 29 on which are pivoted two dogs 30. The pulley is provided with a hub having a flange 31. extending into proximity to the dogs 30. The dogs are preferably so arranged as to constitute in effect bell cranlt levers each having a short arm for engagement with the flange on the pulley hub and a long arm to be engaged by an operating member. This multiplies the power of the operatin member so that when the dogs are oscillate thereby a powerful pressure is exerted upon the pulley to force it into engage ment with the clutch cone. The dogs may conveniently be oscillated by means of a cone 3'2 slidablymounted on the shaft 22. When the cone 32 is slid along the shaft toward the dogs, it forces the ends of the long arms of the dogs apart and causes the driving pulley to move into engagement with the clutch cone. When the cone 32 is drawn back, the spring 28 forces the pulley into its idle position. The immediate operating means for the cone 32 is a bell-crank lever fulcrumed at its elbow upon a bracket extending from the bearing 20 as indicated at 33, one arm of the bell-crank lever being ip the form of a yoke or fork 34 provided with pins 35 which extend into a groove 36 in the controlling cone. The arm 34 is provided with a laterally projecting finger 37 which is adapted to be engaged by the power device to be hereinafter described for the purpose of effecting the release of the clutch. The

other arm, 38. of the bell-crank-lever is connected to the upper end of a controlling rod 39 by means of a pin 40 which pass s through an elongated vertical slot 41 in the rod; this connection providing a lost motion which permits the rod 39 to move vertically a limited distance Without aifecting the lever. The rod extends down beside the yieldable support for the receptacle so as to'be controlled thereby in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The power-actuated means for operating the bell-crank lever and thus effecting the release of the clutch consists of an arm. or bar 42 which lies beside the shaft-2Q and is reciprocated by the shaft when the latter is in motion. upper edge or face a notch l3 which adapted to engage with the pin or finger 37 on the bell-crank lever and swing the lever back far enough to effectthe release of the clutch. The arm or bar has not .only a reciproratory movcment'but also an in dependent movement between an operative position and an inoperative or idle position. As long as the arm or bar is in its inoperative position it is clear of the pin 37 and The arm or bar has in itsmay Teciproce'te without affecting the chili h: but when the arm or bar is shifted inl'o its opcratiye poeilion the pin or iinger into "the notch and is carried back mhle mannerhlthough for the sake of hrcrity i have illusti'uteflv only 1 single pie iiei'r l arrangement.

positc to that in which the notch is located is pivoi'ally Sllfjlkll'lkld upon a hanger which in turn is hung from {i stationary hrzicl i so as to be capable of swinging oh, s ha'uxizontiil mos. {hi lower cncl the mirage q roller 46 which is adapt to engaged by a cam .47 secured upon the shaft A. spring 48 connected at one end to the hunger llllfil at its other enrl h i 11 member ill on the stationary bracket, lentilto the hamgcr in the direction "to carry arm or her toward the driving pulley,

zagjziiiisli in holding the roller always com. Therefore the coin rolzLlTPI-J the emo or her is movocl in one (lireclion oi the cam and in the opposite direct-ion by the spring inahingone or more reciprocaiions for each revoluiioii of the main shaft, ilopa' n'rling upon number oi high points on the can). Th: ioveiizei'it which is thus gl'.]1 lo the erm o. bar eiiougl'i to eilecl i'he rel use of ihe clutch after the arm or be? has heeo swung ohouc its pivo from its inoperative position to its operative position. The arm or bar is controlleil by the rod 39, this rod having a lateral forked ex- C l) at its upper end, the arm or bar the fork 51 of this extension. Vl hen 1 raised, the arm or her is lifted 1mg it into operative relation. :r 37 so that the arm 01" bar is thrown i he earn it engages With linger wows the hell-crank lever into the clutoh-releasing position. This movement of the controlling rod is perinitleci by the pin zinil slot connection helim. 1 it and. the hell-crank lever so that eoiilrollihg rod (lees not have to move bell-crank lover in order to bring the arm or our i to operative posi- 1 Hill 4i the actuating bar or is shown in its operative position, the hell-crank lever having been thrown back tion. it will be seen that in Figs. 1 to 4.- the finpr on the hell-crank lever is l-T than ll would be thrown by arm. This is; accomplished lay controlling rod 27" s will he hereinafter in order ml the finger on t my be free l from the shouhier on the znrtoorm arm. and thus o'li'cr no reels-tome be constructed and actuated in any 1 Lo ihofw l 1 f l E I l I I In the arrangement llluertiva.tedthe end of the arm or bar opthe position when the controlling rod is lowered.

The means for controlling the ['O(l 39 is best illustrated in l, .2 and 3. .lleiczo ring to these figures, 52 is a hrzickcli or shelf through which lhc controlling rod extends and by which it is guided, the lorackel" or shell being secured to the platform 8. Surroumling the rod ohoye the member is a. spring Bilwhich engages it one end with the member 52 encl at its other end with e collar fixed THUG the rod. The spring is under such tension that it tends constantly to lift the controlling rod into the positions imlicaied in l? 1555, 1 and 4-. namely inio the position to can the hell-crank lever hack to the limit of its movement in the clutchrelcasing direction. The lower conlwlling rod is connected to an arm proj cling; from. a C-shapcd member 56 which is pi'votolly mounted as at 5! on a bracket. :38 extending down from the platform 8. The member 56 is proviclmi with a .counter-weight fiilwhich zissisls the spring 3% in raising the controlling rod. ()n the member 5 at 21 point sou -ewlmt below the platform is e. roller (ill 3' 'iich adopted to engage with the upper end oi the filliipli l member as the member 3 rises, and Wing l'he ll -sliaped member in lhe (liHF n to (ll'LW down the controlling rod. There is a swinging, gravityhctuelieil flog i l. PlYUlZZll) mounted on :1. bracket which em ile down from the plsl'form R and serve guide for the lower end of the rorl (log: having a shoulder 63% which is to engage with a. pin 84. on the .iev end of the Q-slmped member in one liHlz-lllifill oil the parts and lock ihe l-shupcd. moinhcr against backward nnweinenl. Go the lUl is a pin or finger 633 which adapted to he :u'li ustcd lengthwise oi lhe rod, the member 65 being so arranged that when (he rocl is pressed down it will strike the (log (5!. and

cause it to release the ll-shaped member.

lhe parts are so propoi'tionccl sniul arranged that when :2. rcceptsole is placed upon the seat (3 ml the upper end of the rod 5 and ihe l'lltl is raised so as to hrh'zg the receptacle about. the discharge spout, the roller ill) cuwith lhe Celmpcd ioember iiiltl swiiuzs it so as to draw l'hc controlling ro-gl clown for enough to place the clutch in operation. Durin the upward movement of the merohcr 5 the finger 65 irm'cls away from the (log 61 and permits the (log to swing; from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 3, line hitter position being that in which the (log); lo' 5 the l-shopeal llmmlllfii. is l have luaretoiorc explained, soon 31-? the clutch is thrown the ifeetl' inch: begins to descend. the rec onol its supporl ciesceno the roller 66 4.

end oi the away from the C-shaped member, leaving the latter locked against the tendency of the spring and theWveight to oscillate it. by means of. the dog 61. The finger 65 is so posit oned on the rod 5 that it engages with the dog and presses it out of engagement with the C-shaped member when the receptacle has received the desired charge. There is now nothing to hold the C-shaped memher and therefore the spring and the weight 59 come into play, oscillating the C-shaped member and raising the controlling rod until the arm or bar 42 is brought into its operative position and the controlling bell-crank lever for the clutch is drawn back. The resistance to the upward movement of the rod is now removed and the rod continues its upward movement and oscillates the bell-crank lever further in the clutch-releasing direction so as to bring the finger 37 thereon clear of the engaging shoulder on the arm or bar. As soon as the clutch is thrown out the feeding of the material stops and it does notv begin again until the filled receptacle has been removed and anew receptacle has been placed in the fillingposition. The lifting of the yieldable support for the receptacle, to bring the receptacle into its filling position, draws down the controlling rod as I have heretofore explained and again throns the clutch in so that the feeding mechanism comes into play and begins to feed material into the empty receptacle. As the material collects in the receptacle, the latter is depressed in the manner heretofore explained until the point is reached where the receptacle is filled and then the clutch is again thrown out and the feed stopped until a new receptacle-is placed in position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and effective means for positively controlling the feeding of the material to be packaged with the expenditure of only a slight force upon What may be termed the master controller which is in turn governed by the support. Consequently successive charges may be. measured very accurately so that there will be practically no deviatidn from the unit of weight for which the m5- chine is set.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention I do not desire to be limited to the particular structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the terms employed within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a. container for mate rial to be packaged, a. yieldable member adjacentto the container for engaging a receptacle to be tilled, a feeding device for forcing material from the container into a receptacle engaged by the aforesaid member and through the material entering the receptacle forcing said member away from the container, at drivin member for said device, a controller for sai driving member, poweractuated means for actuating said controller, and a master controller governed by said yielda'ble member for controlling said power-actuated means.

2. In combination, a container for material to be ackaged, a yieldable support adjacent to t e container for holding a recap tacle to beg filled, a feeding device for forcing material from the container into a receptacle held by the support, and through the material entering the receptacle forcing said support away from the container, 2. driving member for said device, a controller for said member, power-actuated means for actuating said controller, and means controlled by said support for governing said means.

3. In combination, a hopper, a yieldable support below the hopper for a receptacle to be filled, a power-actuated device for forc ingmaterial from the hopper into a receptacle held by the support and through the material entering the receptacle forcing said support away from the hopper, a controller for said device, a power-actuated member for actuating said controller, and means controlled by said support for governing said member.

4. A hopper, a yjeldable support ad'acent to the hopper for a receptacle to be filled, a device in said hopper for progressively forcking material from the hopper into a receptacle held by the support, a driver for said device, a clutch between said driver and said device, means actuated by said driver for releasing the clutch, and means controlled by said support for governing the aforesaid means.

5. A hopper, a yieldable support adjacent to the hopper for a receptacle to be filled, a device in said hopper for progressively forcing material from the hopper into a receptacle on the support, a driver for said device,

a clutch between said driver and said device, i.

a member actuated by said driver for causing the release of the clutch, and a controller for said member actuated by said support.

(5. A hopper, a y-ieldable support below the hopper for a receptacle to be tilled, a feeding device in said hopper for progressively forcing material from the hopper into said receptacle, a driving shaft for saidvdevice, a drivingelement, a clutch between said shaft and said element. a member actuated by said shaft for causing the release of the clutch. and means controlled by said support for governing said meml'ier.

7. In combination, a hopper, a yieldable support adjacent the hopper for a receptor governing said controller,

nee-near tacle fit) be tilled, an adjustable counter-- n-eigbt' for said support, a ptiwer-aetnated device for forcing material from the hopper into receptacle on the support, a controller for said device,a povveralctaated member and means controlled by said sitp port for governing said member.

In combination, a hopper, ayieldable support below the hopper tor a receptacle to he tilled, an adjustable comiterweight tor aaid support, a poivenacthated device for forcing material t'rom the hopper into a receptacle on the support, a controller t'or said power device, a p n.ver-act1uated member "for actuating said controller. and means tuatecl by said support, for governing said member. i

'':l. in mnnbination. a container for material to be packaged. a yieldallle e ement ad jaeent to the container for engaging a receptacle to be filled, a po er-actuated device for forcing material from the container into a receptacle engaging with the afore said element and through the material toreing said element J from the container, a controller for said device member tor governing said can in member having an operative and an inopcrative position, and means controlled by said elenamt for mmxing said mei'nber tron: its inogerative position into its operative position.

It). in combination, a hopper, a yieldable support belovv the hopper for a receptacle to be tilled, a device in the hopper tor torcing material from the hopper into a receptacle on the support, a driving shaft for said device, a driving element. for said shaft, a clutch between said element and said shalt, chanism driven by a d shaft and'adapted to cause the rel e of said clutch, aaid i cilanism including a clutch-actuator havin '1 operative position and an inoperative position, and means controlled by said support for moving said clutch-actnator t'rom its inoperative position into its operative position.

1']. ln tvnnbination. a container tor material to be packaged. a yieldahle element adjacent to the container for engaging with a re eptacle to he tilled. a device in the hop-- per tor forcing" material from the hopper into a receptacle engaged by said elen'lent and throngh lhc matmial forcing said clemenl aivav l'rom the container. a driving shaft for :-;aid device, a driving pulley loose on said .shz'z'lt. a clutch between said pulley and said shall. a member driven by said shaft and adapted to chase the release of said clutch. slaid member having an operative position and an ino 'ierative position, and means controlled by -aid support for moving said member from its inoperative position into its opt "ative position,

12. In combination, a hopp r, a yield-able pport below the hopper fora receptacle to be filled, a device in the hopper tor tore-- mechanism driven by said shaft and adapted to release said clutch, said mechanism in eluding a. swinging clutch-actuating arm tending normally to swing into an lllhl lflib tive position, and means controlled in; said support for swinging said arm from its inoperative position into its operative position. 7

13. In combination, a container l'or material. to be packaged, a vieldahle member adjacent to the container for engaging a receptacle to be tilled. a feeding device for forcing material from the container into a receptacle engaged by the a loresaid member and through the material entering the receptacle forcing said member away tron: the container, a driving member for said device, controller for said driving member, a power actuated means for actuating said controller, and means governed by said yieldalile menil'ier and constructed and arranged so as neat to bring said povvcrflctuaited' means into operative relation to the controller to produce partial actuation oi the controller and then. to more the controller so as to complete the actuation thereot.

L. In combination, a hopper. a yicldahle support below the hopper tor a receptacle to be filled, a feeding device for forcing material tron] the hopper into a receptacle held by the support, a shattfor driving said clevice, driving means for the shall, a clutch betw en the shaft and the driving means. a lever for controlling the clutch, mechanisn'i including an arm for actuating said lever, said arm being movable into and out of op erative relation to said lever. and means controlled by said support for first moving said arm i-ii tn operative relation to said lever and then completing the actuation ot the lever after it; has been partially actuated by said in combination, a hopper, a yieldable support below the hopper to a receptacle to he filled, a feeding device for forcing material from thehopper into a receptacle held the support, a driving shaft tor said device. driving means tor said shall. a clutch between said driving means and said shat-t, means including; a lever for controlling said clutch. a reciprocahle arm having an operative position and an inoperative position, means including: a member on the shaft for reciprocating said arm, cooperating shonl- (lei-s on said lever and on said arm adapted to engage with each other in the operative position of the arm to etl'ect the release of the clutch, and means controlled by said sup port for engaging with said arm so as to I bring it into its operative position and for engaging with the lever after it has been moved into clutch releasing position so as to bring the said shou ders on the lever and on the arm out of engagement with each other. I

cation in the presence of twojwit-nesses.

GEORGE HOEPNER.

\Vitnesses:

WM. F. FREUDENR IQH, RUBY V. BRYDGES.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifi- 

